Fifa says political (or religious or commercial) displays should not be allowed by national teams in global football.
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Scottish National Party MP Stewart McDonald is calling for a ban on footballers wearing poppies for next week’s World Cup qualifier between Scotland and England on Armistice Day to be overturned.
The compromise of wearing a printed poppy on an armband was brokered for England’s 1-0 friendly win over Spain at Wembley on 12 November, 2011.
Fifa, football’s world governing body, has yet to indicate whether a points deduction would be under consideration.
Federation Internationale de Football Association said that the armbands would breach the laws of the game.
A similar row escalated in 2011 ahead of an worldwide between Spain and England when Prince William, the president of the FA, and the then Prime Minister David Cameron wrote to Federation Internationale de Football Association to voice their displeasure.
May’s fellow Conservative lawmaker Damian Collins, chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sports Committee, told the BBC Fifa were playing a double game where the rule was good for one but not for another.
British PM Theresa May, sporting a poppy, slammed FIFA’s ban on poppies which represent commemoration of the armstice that ended World War One.
MP Damian Collins, who chairs the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, is awaiting a response from Federation Internationale de Football Association president, Gianni Infantino, having written to him urging him to reconsider the decision.
“We are working closely with the FA to ensure the commitment and sacrifice of our Armed Forces is recognised during the Armistice Day match at Wembley”.
Shortly after the FA’s statement, its Scottish counterpart issued an nearly identical statement of its own to say Scotland players would also wear armbands.
Theresa May’s spokesman said: “People should be able to wear their poppies with pride and, in a year when we’re commemorating the centenary of the First World War, it’s particularly poignant to remember what sacrifices were made to keep us free”.
The Scottish FA made a similar statement.
Mark Bibbey, chief executive of Poppyscotland, said the charity will always advocate wearing remembrance poppies and praised those who have signed the petition.
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The artificial flower is worn by members of the public in the days leading up to Remembrance Day.
